How Many Viparspectra on a 125 Gallon?

[Cetus]

I've been in the market for a while now looking for a suitable replacement for the LEDs that came with my tank kit and I'm considering two Viparspectra. I'm wondering though if that'd be sufficient enough to cover the entire tank. It's going to be a mixed reef with maybe some of the easy SPS down the line. I don't know if two or three would be best however and that's why I wanted to ask and see what'd be sufficient enough.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

You'll want 3. One of the 165 watt fixtures seems to perfectly cover and 24"x18" footprint for me, hanging about 14" above the water. I have 2 on a 75 gallon, and even with glass lids, with the lights set at 15% white and 100% blue I have 450-500 par directly under the fixtures, and around the edges of that 24"x18" footprint at the bottom I still have 100-125 par.

I can grow any coral I want in there under those settings. My acros are encrusting and growing faster than I've ever seen an acro grow, and my LPS are thriving in the mid to lower levels of the tank

 

[mdb_talon]

You can certainly get by with two but will have sections on the outsides and/or middle that appear visibly darker(and of course have lower par). However if that is not a concern for you that is not a concern for you then 2 will work just fine on a mixed tank. I mean if you were suggesting wall to wall sps i would say use 3. In a mixed tank though there are countless corals that can be placed in those lower par shadowy areas and in my opinion boils down to whether you are ok with the aesthetic. In some ways 2 can make it easier in a mixed tank in that it gives you more options of lower par areas while still having high par areas for your most light demanding corals.

 

[outhouse]

6' tank needs 3

if you use 2 you will have dark shadows on ends, its doable and some of them look nice, just dont plan on have things grow well on ends

 

[Cetus]

alright.
im looking at three of these and I'm wondering what kind of wattage it is cause it lists both 165w and 300w for some reason? i assume ill need 300w for power but if anyone has experience with this could i get some input?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

alright.
im looking at three of these and I'm wondering what kind of wattage it is cause it lists both 165w and 300w for some reason? i assume ill need 300w for power but if anyone has experience with this could i get some input?

That is the 165 W, which will work fine. You just need the 3 fixtures. One per 2' length section of tank.

 

[oreo54]

Keep in mind that the "165w" is not the actual wattage of these lights .
More like 110w run on full.

Same thing with the bigger ones.
At best they run them at 2w each.

And since most heavily dim one channel...even less real wattage over the tank..

Won' t get into efficiency either.
Good thing there are lenses improving delivery.

 

[nereefpat]

i assume ill need 300w for power but if anyone has experience with this could i get some input?

No, you want 3 of the 165W.

 

[stovenut]

I have a 6' 135g peninsula and I use 2x300w Viparspectras.
But they appear to be out of stock ATM.